Chick Grower? Flock Raiser? All Flock?

[ClareScifi]

Is there any difference at all between the products labeled "Chick Grower," "Flock Raiser," and "All Flock?"

The only difference I see on the label between Nutrena "Chick Starter/Grower" and Nutrena "All Flock" is that the latter says it is for all chickens over 7 weeks old, but I see no difference at all in the ingredients that are listed, so is this just a marketing strategy-- one product name for the younger chicks and another product name for older chickens, but the same identical product, ingredient-wise? Or is there a difference I am unaware of?

And is "Flock Raiser" the same thing as "Chick Grower" and "All Flock?"

Thanks for your help.

Clare

 

[EweSheep]

Ive used Flock Raiser on my chicks, from hatch to adulthood with NO problems. For the laying hens, I would give them oyster free choice or sprinkle in their food.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thank you for the info, EweSheep. What brand is "Flock Raiser?"

 

[Den in Penn]

The chick feeds are usually ground finer. Think baby food.

 

[EweSheep]

Purina

I used the generic baby chick feed and its no different in texture in the Flock Raiser. Had NO issues feeding that to the chicks in the last four years I've used them.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thanks for the info.

Drats! I wish your posts had come through before I left for the farm store.

They had only the Nutrena All Flock, and it only came in pellets. My roo doesn't really like pellets. He likes mash, so now I wish I had gotten the chick feed, if it's ground up fine. I didn't think of that. I did see they had Grower crumbles, but is there a Grower mash?

I suppose I could grind my Nutrena All Flock pellets for him, but what a pain! I guess I will have to do so, though. Where is my hammer? :>)

 

[galanie]

I think the biggest difference is that chick feed is usually medicated while flock raiser, etc. isn't.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Around here Flock raiser can be medicated or so my feed store said.

 

[Zach123]

"All Flock" is the Nutrena brand of Purinas "Flock Raiser." They are both advertised as a one-size-fits-all feed for chickens, ducks, turkeys and gamebirds. Purina's has a higher protein content (20%) then Nutrena (18%). Nutrena's 18% is more in line with what average chicken feed has while I belive that other types of fowl generaly need more then that, up to 28% protein for game birds (and some use it faster maturing, heavy beeds of chicken such as bantam brahma's.)

The general breakdown of nutrients between the two is this:

Nutrena All Flock:
Crude Protein 18.0%
Lysine 0.8%
Methionine 0.31%
Crude Fat 2.5%
Crude Fiber 8.0%
Calcium 1.4% - 1.9%
Phosphorus 0.6%
Salt 0.25% - 0.65%
Sodium 0.15% - 0.2%

Purina Flock Raiser:

Protein, not less than 20.0%
Lysine, not less than 0.95%
Methionine, not less than 0.35%
Fat, not less than 3.5%
Fiber, not more than 5.0%
Calcium, not less than 0.8%
Calcium, not more than 1.3%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.7%
Salt, not less than 0.35%
Salt, not more than 0.85%
Vitamin A 7,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E 14 IU/lb​

(Both charts are from their respective websites)

You can see Flock Raiser generally has higher concentraitions then the All Flock, with the exeption of the calcium content, and also has Vitamins A and E.


"Chick Grower" is not a label name that I've heard of or can find, so if you can find the brand it would be helpful. Purina's chick feed is labeld "Start And Grow: Sunfresh Recipie" and comes in both medicated and non. It generally has smaller concentraitions of nutrients then their Flock Raiser feed. Nutrena has two chick feeds, their Naturewise and Country Feeds lables. The only discernable difference being that Naturwise is touted as an all natural feed. They too appear at a glace to have lower concetraitions of nutrients then their adult feed counterpats, aside from the protein which is kept at 18%, both also come in medicated and non.

I have always given my chicks a chick starter/grower rather than an adult bird feed, I have no rhyme or reason for this and I know many people who give their chicks different types of feed. Some go for more protein etc. depending on the type and breed of fowl they have. You can give your chicks other foods as well, but keep in mind that if you are giving food other then crumbles, they will likely need a grit as well, which comes in "chick" size I think, but since Ive never used it, I don't know. I would also steer away from medicated feed, which has anti-coccidiotates (Sp?) to prevent your chicks from developing the disease. However, this prevents them from developing a natural immunity, IMO, and would therefore need medicated feed into adulthood as well.

 

[galanie]

You can see Flock Raiser generally has higher concentraitions then the All Flock, with the exeption of the calcium content, and also has Vitamins A and E.


"Chick Grower" is not a label name that I've heard of or can find, so if you can find the brand it would be helpful. Purina's chick feed is labeld "Start And Grow: Sunfresh Recipie"  and comes in both medicated and non. It generally has smaller concentraitions of nutrients then their Flock Raiser feed. Nutrena has two chick feeds, their Naturewise and Country Feeds lables. The only discernable difference being that Naturwise is touted as an all natural feed. They too appear at a glace to have lower concetraitions of nutrients then their adult feed counterpats, aside from the protein which is kept at 18%, both also come in medicated and non.

I have always given my chicks a chick starter/grower rather than an adult bird feed, I have no rhyme or reason for this and I know many people who give their chicks different types of feed. Some go for more protein etc. depending on the type and breed of fowl they have. You can give your chicks other foods as well, but keep in mind that if you are giving food other then crumbles, they will likely need a grit as well, which comes in "chick" size I think, but since Ive never used it, I don't know. I would also steer away from medicated feed, which has anti-coccidiotates (Sp?) to prevent your chicks from developing the disease. However, this prevents them from developing a natural immunity, IMO, and would therefore need medicated feed into adulthood as well. 

I have been told that it takes them some time to build up a natural immunity and the "medication" is simply something that messes with the germ structure to protect them until a natural immunity can be established.